CELTICS NOTEBOOK: Robinson-West combination looks like a winner

Nate Robinson and Delonte West, who are both capable of playing the point, are working together as part of the Celtics’ second unit and will be giving Rajon Rondo some needed relief.

By Jim Fenton

The Patriot Ledger, Quincy, MA

By Jim Fenton

Posted Oct. 11, 2010 at 12:01 AM
Updated Oct 11, 2010 at 11:02 AM

By Jim Fenton

Posted Oct. 11, 2010 at 12:01 AM
Updated Oct 11, 2010 at 11:02 AM

BOSTON

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There has been an ongoing search by the Boston Celtics to find a backup point guard to Rajon Rondo.

Eddie House, who is more of a shooting guard, and an aging Sam Cassell filled that role in the 2007-08 championship season while House and Stephon Marbury were the reserves in the 2008-09 season.

Rondo had little help last season as House was traded to the New York Knicks in February for Nate Robinson, who struggled in that role until getting more comfortable late in the playoffs.

This season, though, it looks like the Celtics are going to have capable replacements whenever Rondo is not on the floor.

Robinson, building on what he did at the end of the postseason, and Delonte West have been paired in the backcourt off the bench, giving the Celtics a combination of guards who are able to run the point.

“So far, so good,’’ said Coach Doc Rivers of using Robinson and West together. “It’s been seamlessly almost right now. They fit very well. Nate, so far, has been a very good point guard. He’s made a lot of good decisions.

“When they do get too fast, it seems like Delonte has been the guy that kind of calms the group down, (saying) ‘Slow down, let’s get back to playing at my pace again.’

“Defensively, they’ve been a terror. They put so much pressure on the ball. That’s something we really haven’t had. We’ve been able to do it at one (guard) position. When you’re able to do it at two of the guard positions at the same time on the floor, that puts a lot of stress on the other team’s offense.’’

Rondo will still play a majority of the minutes, but having Robinson and West to turn to gives Rivers better options off the bench than he’s had in the past.

“It’s a good combination,’’ said Rivers. “It’s not like they’re going to get any faster than Rondo, but it does give us a lot of ball-handling. With Nate and Delonte, it gives us a lot of shooting as well. (Robinson has) really bought in and that’s been great. Adding D-West, it gives you three ball-handlers. I don’t think I’ve had that.’’

West and Robinson take turns bringing the ball up the court when they are in the game together.

“Depending on who is defending us, we give each other breaks,’’ said West before a preseason game against the Toronto Raptors at the TD Garden on Sunday night. “I’m able to set him up so he won’t exert too much energy trying to get the ball up and set it up.

Page 2 of 2 - “I’m more of a facilitator and let him be a scorer. I’ve perfected my game to do what needs to be done at the time. I’m enjoying it.’’

Painful memories: Rivers said he often thinks about the tough Game 7 loss to the Los Angeles Lakers that ended the NBA Finals last June.

“It’s painful every day,’’ said Rivers. “I don’t think that’ll go away. It’s really interesting how often you think about it. Hell, they show the damn video (on TV) all the time so you can get a Sports Illustrated subscription. It drives me nuts. So many times, I walk away from the TV hating Sports Illustrated.

“I don’t think that’ll ever go away, don’t think it should. We showed our team a little clip of the (Lakers) celebration on opening day of training camp. I was amazed how raw that still was with the players. I underestimated that. That was in a way good. That’ll stick with you forever.’’

Rivers said that he has more flashbacks to the Game 7 loss than he does to the Game 6 victory over the Lakers that clinched the 2008 title.

“Larry Brown told me this summer, ‘You know, you should think about Game 6,’” said Rivers. “I said, ‘It’s easy for you.’ Mr. Optimsitic was saying that to me. But you do think about Game 7 over and over again and I’m sure that’ll last for a long time.’’

Injury report: Glen Davis was limited to less than six minutes after suffering a nose contusion early in the second quarter. Davis had three points and one rebound before exiting with 10:48 remaining in the first half.

Jermaine O’Neal, sidelined the past week with a strained left hamstring, made his debut with the Celtics.

Rivers opted to start Shaquille O’Neal at center and brought Jermaine O’Neal off the bench.

“Jermaine will be on a minutes restriction early on,’’ said Rivers. “I’ll sit Shaq one of the next two games completely and play Jermaine a little bit more. We have to be careful with the hamstring stuff.’’